ONLINE COACHING PROS & CONS

Coach Ben during a video call with online client

So you want to get fit?

​Perhaps previous attempts have not worked and you want professional help?

Private coaching/trainers look like the best option, but can be pretty expensive if you want a decent coach (which you might struggle to get).

You have seen online coaching as an option, but what is it all about, Who is it good for?

We coach clients one to one, in classes and online, different options suit different people and online is certainly not for everyone, despite what everyone else who sells an online programme will tell you.
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In this article we will discuss the Pro’s and Cons of online coaching and you can see if it is suitable for you. Should this spark any further questions regarding online coaching or how we can help you reach your goals, send us a message and we can arrange a consultation to discuss getting you started on your journey.

Either way, don’t wait around and do something to make yourself feel good!

The rest of the world will thank you for it too; happiness and success is something others gravitate toward!

Pros and Cons of Online Coaching, here goes:

PROS

• FLEXIBILITY - Train in your own time, wherever in the world you are. Fit your training in around your schedule rather than the coach you want to train with.

• AFFORDABILITY - Expert advice at a fraction of the cost of 1-1 personal coaching. Avoid being charged for missed sessions and avoid any awkward conversations with your coach.

• ACCOUNTABILITY - Contact between you & your coach is not limited by an allotted gym hour, with online coaching you will be kept accountable and feel motivated by the weekly check in which is dedicated to check your progress.

• TRACK YOUR RESULTS - With our sexy app, you can input results, take measurements track the all important body fat as well as track various other aspects of your life, keep a visual reminder on your phone of your progress and keep your photos as private as you like or share with your coach for feedback.

• STRUCTURE - Have a timetable, know what’s expected from the outset; rather than getting interrupted by conflicting events in either you or your coach’s lives. Nothing gets in the way of your progress.

• YOUR COACH - Often, gyms allocate or recommend PT’s to suit their own convenience/timetable rather than your own & it can be difficult to research their credentials, testimonials or social media accounts. The variety of coaches out there is endless too; you do not have to train in a gym. Find something that is going to suit you; your goals, what you enjoy doing and is going to suit you longterm.

• BIG PICTURE TRAINING - Contact your coach outside allowed gym time - address any aspect of your life without waiting a whole week before tackling the obstacle in your progress.

• PRIVACY - If you are someone that likes to train in private without someone watching your every move in the gym, but being equipped with the expertise of a coach, this is perfect for you. You also have the confidentiality of questions/concerns being answered in the privacy of online/over the phone conversations.

• ENJOYMENT & FOCUS - No need to listen to your coach bore you with his favourite sports team or the fascinating intricacies of some absurdly named tendon - plug into your favourite explicit or classical violin playlist and get in THE ZONE. Pull that face that helps you ace that final exercise rep and enjoy having that time to yourself and block out the rest of the world.

• AVOID YOUR COACH BECOMING A MATE - Hear me out on this one. Be friends with your coach; you’re both into fitness and you’re working together on something huge, so it’s inevitable. BUT when you become too close with your coach, it can be harder to keep that professional agreement between you both. Your coach may find it more difficult to give you the tough love / grounding you need and you may feel less obligated to stick to the programme and keep accountable or find it easier to cancel a session.

• ONLINE COMMUNITY - an essential when your close friends and family may not be that supportive. Instantly be a part of something with people going through something similar. We also want to share your success and stories and will be keen (with your consent) to shout about your epic journey across our webpages so if you want to help others down the line; it’s a pretty awesome place to start. Get involved; we’re a friendly bunch who love to work hard, play hard…and eat!

cons

• ACCOUNTABILITY - This is a double edged sword. There will be no one meeting you in person at the gym at a specific time. You are going to have to take yourself seriously and have self discipline. However, if you can do this; imagine how awesome you’re going to feel when you reach your goals; you’ll have realised your own power, your own potential and realise that the only limit between you and your dream life is your own mindset. Greater the challenge, the greater the reward!

• COST - Online Coaching is miles better value option than 1-1 training but that said, it will be easier to ignore your investment when life threatens to take over as you won’t feel like you’ve wasted as much money. Research your coach well, go for the highest value coach and this will also be a good incentive to stick to the plan and make it worthwhile! Buy cheap, buy twice!

• COACH - There are some scammers out there; check your coaches credentials, social media pages, testimonials and message them!

• TECHNIQUE - Something we’re pretty into at The Fitness Masters. When you haven’t got someone critiquing your technique first hand, it can be easy to do exercises incorrectly and therefore train inefficiently or, at worst, get injured. Luckily, movement being a top priority for us, we’ve addressed this within our online coaching and our clients can film themselves on our app for us to analyse and give feedback upon. Cool huh.

THE FITNESS MASTERS ETHOS

Thinking of training with us? Before you do make sure you understand our ethos! 

Feel free to print, read and ingrain into your soul to guarantee making your investment in Online Coaching worthwhile and start reaping the reward.

Master yourself, master your fitness and the world is your oyster.

Believe it and imagine the end feeling of success.

HONESTY

We won’t judge; we’ve probably been there, done it ourselves so tell us where you’re struggling and we’ll find a way to tackle it. That way, that one missed gym session doesn’t become a whole week and one lie doesn’t become the first step toward wasting your whole programme. 

SHOW UP

Whatever happens. However much pizza you ate the night before. Check in. We’re not focussing on the minor details, we want to keep in touch to make a big difference in  the numbers at the end of the programme and a big difference in your life. 80% of success is in showing up. You’ll never leave the gym feeling guilty for showing up compared to staying on the sofa…well…how many scoops down are you into that ice cream now…?

Attitude & FAITH

Every minute of every day, you have the choice to decide your mindset and how you go from here. Move on, give it a go…what’s the worst that can happen? You might be surprised by how you feel once you get started! Happiness proceeds success; value yourself enough to treat yourself well and trust the process. The size of the obstacles will pale into insignificance when you keep in mind how much you want this. How much you want to change.

PAY THE PRICE

Expect and accept that others may not support you. You can find support elsewhere and you can tell the doubters/haters about your epic new life when they see ask why you seem so much happier. Oh and you may have to sacrifice an hour on the coach just to go to the gym… Anything worth having is worth paying the price for

INTEGRITY

Especially with online coaching - you’re going to need to value yourself enough and have the integrity to do the small things when no one is watching, especially if others aren’t supportive. This is for you after all. We, as your coaches, want you to do really well and help in any way we can but essentially, this is your life; you get to choose what that looks like and we can’t babysit you. ​​

Still like the sound of Online Coaching? Click here to have a peak at our online kickstarter or email us to join a local class or just book in for a chat so we can help. 

Regards 

Coach Ben Price
​&
Coach to be Alexandra Williams